"When people talk about cuts to public services they forget that people depend on them. They’re just told about the cost, and that it’s more money for the state - as if the state was some great monster that does things to you. When in reality it’s the public services workers who look after you, and who are paid for by the community" said the late Tony Benn in an interview with UNISON activist magazine Infocus back in 2010 soon after the formation of the Coalition Government. The full interview can be read here:
http://www.unison.org.uk/still-battling-for-a-fair-society
Tristram Hunt, Labour MP for Stoke Central, (and also a lecturer in modern History) gives an excellent lecture on the BBC Parliament web site on Tony Benn - a reminder of what a radical Labour MP is and what an inspiration to wider action they can be. Nice also to see the ubiquitous Bick sat on the front row next to Tony Benn:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/
b0186bn3/1911_
Centenary_Lecture_Tony_Benn/
Tony Benn told 15,000 'People First' marchers in Glasgow today that 'we will win' in the fight against cuts. UNISON Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby, this year's STUC President, praised the trade unions, community groups, faith groups and wider public who had braved the torrential rain to get their message across. "You are the real big Society", he told them. UNISON members turned out in their thousands, supported by Eleanor Smith, UNISON President.
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/1oct.html
